And so, the Plot Moves Forward. (10.4)

…

Calamities are peerless monsters, the apex of their own kind, and generally speaking they're not something anyone wants to deal with. However, they're rare because Monsters ignore the Crystals left behind by their dead fellows. When it does happen, however, even a normal kobold from the first floors can become something terrifying to behold. A Troll from the Middle Floors, who are normally easily dealt with by Level 2s, became a Calamity and slaughtered dozens of adventurers before it was dealt with by a Level 4. Considering the fact that a jump in Levels means almost an increase in strength proportional to how much one already has… it's safe to assume that a Calamity is a monster that has doubled in strength and power.

Tamers who try to make Calamities typically end up dead or with a carcass at their feet, no matter how 'docile' they made their monster, leading me to believe that a monster knows just how much more powerful it becomes afterward. They become more willing to attack adventurers because of their newfound power and also begin to search for more Monster Crystals to eat. They effectively change from dumb enemies that barely know to back off from powerful opponents, into ones that can adapt and know rudimentary tactics.

So, understandably, a Calamity is something that cannot be underestimated, should never be confronted with anything less than full force, and above all else, shouldn't be confronted while not prepared. They had to be treated and studied under very, very well-controlled situations. The Guild made sure that every adventurer could discern a Calamity from others, so they knew what they were dealing with, and run when needed. Typically speaking, a small group of Level 4s is what is regarded as the minimal requirement for a single Calamity from the Middle Floors.

A regular Goliath is considered a Level 3 Monster, which is unsurprising for a Monster King, and can typically be dealt with by a well-trained group of Level 3s or a dozen Level 2s working exceedingly well with one another, or a smattering of specialized individuals backed by a lot of resources. The group that I had gathered for the Goliath was a combination of the three, with backup from a Level 4 and Level 5. Needless to say, we had handily defeated the Goliath without so much as a scratch.

Still, when we had faced the Black Goliath, which was more powerful than the last, we had help from our Level 4 and Level 5, along with someone who was able to focus on the miniscule details in order to supplement my own plans. From my estimation, it was a Level 4 Monster that was empowered with high-speed regeneration. I was injured by the time we defeated it, and our supply of Magic Swords was spent, but it was handily dealt with. Hiryute and Viridis could've taken it on alone, if not for the fact that it could regenerate its limbs within a few seconds.

However, taking into account how becoming a Calamity doubled the strength of a Monster, and since the one we just killed was already a Level 4… I had no doubt that what we were facing was going to be anything less than a Level 6.

So, the moment I realized what was happening, was it any surprise that I immediately decided that fighting it was nothing short of futile and that we had to evacuate?

…

It was an ugly, horrific thing to look upon. Monstrous in every sense of the word. It had grown immensely under a pale, faded light. Muscles and bones bulged beneath the power it ingested, cracks formed on its skin, and sickening, crunching echoes reverberated through the entirety of Under Resort. It's face curled into its chest and melded into it. The same happened to the rest of its limbs, until the entirety of the massive giant became a massive orb of pulsing, black flesh emitting a baleful glow. Crystals, similar to the ones upon the rooftop, were forming upon its skin. Assaults against it went unanswered, the attacks found purchase against the skin uncovered by crystal, but all injuries healed within seconds. Everyone knew it was metamorphosing, like a grotesque caterpillar that curled into a cocoon, changing into something that was never encountered before.

"Get those things packed up and ready!"

"If you need to be healed get over here, you're no use half-dead!"

"We need to be out of here yesterday! Work quickly or sit in a corner and don't be an idiot!"

Needless to say, no one knew when it was going to erupt from its 'shell,' and no one planned on sticking around and finding out. Under Resort was transforming. Walls and lumber being shaped into sleds and packs being placed upon it. Adventurers were being healed, cutting down trees, or carting around supplies. Blacksmiths were making weapons, repairing armor, or any myriad of others things. Injuries were being treated, starting from the most severe. It was efficient. Practical. Wholly something that I never expected to see in Under Resort, the lawless, near-criminal Adventurer town of the Dungeon. Though, I most certainly had a guess as to who brought about the changes that were saving so many lives and just might save my own.

It was more than I'd ever did, just training select people in the hopes that they were the Protagonist, or amassing wealth and money to fund my own expeditions. Why hadn't I done any of this? Organized and aided Orario as a whole, made the system better, instead of just spitting at it and turning my back? What if I had come here with more people, with a Familia instead of just my students? Wouldn't they be safer, would their lives not be on the edge of a knife if I had more Adventurers, stronger ones, to help out? If I had joined the Loki Familia instead of just clinging to my own pride… there would be four Level 6s here, three Level 5s, six Level 4s, and dozens of Level 3s and 2s.

I wouldn't have dragged my students into a place where they might die.

Digesting that fact was difficult. In the back of my mind, a voice told me that I should use Cranel. That I should trust in my conclusion that he was the Protagonist and that he could overcome the problem. However, what if I was wrong? I had been wrong before, and it ended with five people dead. Even if I could accept the fact that I wasn't fully at fault for their deaths, that they had fallen because of their own decisions as adults and adventurers, the same couldn't be said for this case. I had wanted to deal with the Goliath to force the plot along, to make Cranel progress, and continue training for my own plans to get home. My students and allies were here because I had asked them to be. So, without a doubt, if they died it would be truly my responsibility. They'd be leaving behind their dreams, the people they were close to, and whatever else they had in their lives if they died.

So, even if it was cowardly and spat in the faces of those who died in the fight, I had to force everyone to accept that we were leaving.

That we all had to run.

"So, this is where you were." Once again, Elder managed to sneak up on me, but I was consumed by my Skill enough to just take his presence in stride. The acrid smoke from his cigar soon filled the air. I noticed that he had a great shield on his back and a mace at his waist. His arms were tightly bound by bandages. He must have blocked one of the Goliath's blows with the shield to be damaged so heavily. "Keeping out of sight while you brood and think, Hikigaya? Don't want your subordinates to be demoralized, eh? I can respect that."

"… No." Elder's words were simple, but they weighed heavily on my mind. Was that really what I was doing? Making sure that my own feelings weren't known for the sake of my group. Putting it that way made me seem a lot more thoughtful than I was. In reality, I just wanted to be alone. To keep telling myself that running away was a good thing, that there weren't any expeditions from the deeper floors that would get ambushed by the monster that was forming in Under Resort. There was no way I would let Elder's line of thinking continue. This time, I won't let the misconception stand. "I'm doing nothing like that." I shook my head, the words I was looking for weren't coming, but I supposed that I could put what I heard earlier to work. "I'm just sitting in the corner and doing my best to not be an idiot."

"There's that sense of humor Orimoto never stops talking about. Can't say that I like it very much, but I suppose there's no shame in admitting the new generation's humor is lost to an old man like me." Elder took a seat and produced another cigar. He offered it to me, but I declined. "Suit yourself." He grunted before he shifted his shield to make himself more comfortable. "I know what you're thinking, Hikigaya. Probably because I've been in your place many times before. What's the right thing to do in this situation? Run away or stand and fight?"

"Against something that might be a Level 6, running away is the right choice." Bluntly, I told him what I thought. I didn't have time to argue about this. I wouldn't argue about keeping my students and allies alive. No matter how often I thought about them as fictional characters, that wasn't truly the case. They were people. I wouldn't risk their lives. "Keeping everyone alive, amassing our forces, and hitting this monster with more Familias is the better choice."

"It isn't running away, it's a tactical retreat." Elder snorted and shook his head as he gave the statement. "I told you, Hikigaya, I've heard all of that before. Under Resort's been destroyed dozens of times, but…" He hesitated, but when he spoke again, I had to close my eyes. His tone… was almost like Hestia's. Fervent, trying to hold himself back, but failing. People being selfish for the sake of other people. They were both the easiest and hardest people to manipulate. "But, y'know, this is the first time it'll happen since Orimoto came here."

"… I'm sorry." What could I have said besides that? I could see it clearly now. I easily remembered their brief interaction, little more than three hours ago, before the 'sky' shattered. Elder obviously cared for Orimoto like a child. Who wouldn't? When people were weak, they clung to others, desperately so, and once you rescued someone, you took responsibility for their future. Elder wanted Orimoto to succeed. It was easy to discern that Orimoto worked extensively to build Rivira up to what it was now. "If it was just another Goliath, even one empowered by the Dungeon again, then…" It was an excuse. I could still fight. All my students and allies could. I just didn't want to risk their lives. "…But fighting something like this, something we don't even know, is suicidal."

"It all comes down to that, doesn't it? Living to fight another day instead of dying. Playing it smart." There was a bitterness to Elder's voice that was uncomfortably familiar. The eye-patched man gave a sharp bark of laughter. I thought that he would get up and leave, but instead he leveled his single-eyed gaze onto me. I felt a chill go down my spine as I matched his gaze. It was an experienced gaze. One that saw far more tragedies and deaths than one could without something breaking. "But… do you really think that the Dungeon would let us leave after we've angered it so much already? That we'll really have any choice whether we want to fight or not?" A chuckle, soft and slow, left his mouth. "The Dungeon's the most cruel, hateful existence in this world… I knew that since I saw that thing in the sky that it simply wanted us to crush every ounce of hope we held close to our hearts."

A cracking sound resounded across Under Resort, silencing every voice and stilling every heart. From the bottom of the sphere of crystal and ebony erupted a deluge of pitch black tar. Slowly it opened, twitched, and shuddered as it expelled its contents. One pair of arms, then another pair, and then another came forth dripping in blood. Each one took hold of the sides of the opening of its birthplace, only to rip through it completely.

Five faces of wrath, six arms wreathed in pitch, two legs that carried its immense form towards the sky.

I already knew its name.

Asura.